A RAGING Sam Allardyce has demanded a public apology from Giovanni Trapattoni after accusing the Irish boss of trying to write off Steven Reid’s career.

Italian Trapattoni incurred the wrath of Rovers after claiming their midfielder was fighting a losing battle against his old knee injury, with manager Allardyce blasting his comments as “outrageous” and “out of order”.

Reid, who is back in contention for his first Premier League action for more than a year for today’s trip to Chelsea, has already had his say – insisting he will return – but Allardyce was not prepared to let the matter rest.

He said: “It is disgraceful a manager of an international side coming out with so much drivel and such nonsense.

"He should be making a public apology to Steven Reid and to this football club for trying to undermine a contracted player.

“He should come and talk to me, jump on a plane and apologise to Steven Reid.

"He is outrageous in what he said and he should keep his big mouth shut.

“He was completely out of order saying what he said.

"He was totally wrong with his statement. It could be very damaging for a young man trying to secure a new contract and trying to force his way back into the Republic of Ireland side.

"So it was totally and utterly amazing he came out with what he did.

“I can be a lot more strong on it but you couldn’t print it.

"He needs to be brought to task, I'm bringing him to task publicly.

"He needs to admit he was wrong and apologise to Steven more than anyone else - never mind this football club.

"He has undermined him and in many ways you could say he has tried to put a stop to his career.”

Reid withdrew from the Republic’s last international double header with Achilles trouble, having already played a couple of reserve games and a Carling Cup tie having returned from knee surgery.

The 28-year-old is out of contract at Blackburn Rovers this summer and knows the next few months will prove vital in securing his future, either at Ewood Park or elsewhere.

“I have talked to Steven hard and long about it,” Allardyce said.

“He has handled himself well but my feelings are much stronger than Steven’s because our player is being exposed for no reason whatsoever.

“He is a totally dedicated professional, a player who has gone through hugely difficult times.

"Who is fighting to get back to his best after a long hard road of rehabilitation.

"Weeks and weeks and months and months on his own, plugging away.

"Then to find his international manager is trying to write him off is an absolute disgrace.

“He should have got his facts right before he made that statement and he was totally out of order.

"They certainly knew the situation with regard Steven and this niggly little injury he picked up and it was nothing to do with his knee.

"He is fit and back playing again now and if he is not selected this weekend, I can certainly see him playing a part on Tuesday.

“Put it this way if we had a player here and we were trying to sign him and we couldn’t sign him because there was something wrong medically.

"We couldn’t say that because we would be liable to be sued.”